Question

Suppose that a market is described by the following supply and
demand equations:
QS = 2P
QD = 300 – P
a. Solve for the equilibrium price and the equilibrium
quantity.
b. Suppose that a tax of T is placed on buyers, so the new demand
equation is
QD = 300 – (P + T).
Solve for the new equilibrium. What happens to the price received
by sellers, the price paid by buyers, and the quantity sold?
c. Tax revenue is T X Q. Use your answer to part (b) to solve for
tax revenue as a function of T. Graph this relationship for T
between 0 and 300.
d. The deadweight loss of a tax is the area of the triangle between
the supply and demand curves. Solve for the deadweight loss as a
function of T. Graph this relationship for T between 0 and 300.
(Hint: Looking sideways, the base of the deadweight loss triangle
is T. and the height is the difference between the quantity sold
with the tax and the quantity sold without the tax.)
e. The government now levies a tax on the good of $200 per unit. Is
this a good policy? Why or why not? Can you propose a better
policy?